Why Is My Kumihimo Braid Uneven on Marudai? Tips for Even Tension with 8+ Strands

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Your Kumihimo braid is likely uneven on the marudai due to inconsistent tension between your hands or among the individual strands. The primary cause is allowing the braiding rhythm or the weight distribution of the tama (bobbins) to become unbalanced. To fix this, focus on maintaining a steady, mirrored pulling motion with both hands and ensuring all strands move with equal resistance. An exception is when using mixed fiber types, which may naturally require different tension management. Key Takeaways Consistent Hand Motion is Crucial:  Maintain a mirrored, rhythmic "pull and release" with both hands to create even tension. Balance Your Tama:  Ensure all bobbins are equally weighted and hang freely without tangling to prevent uneven strand pull. Practice Proper Posture and Setup:  Your physical position relative to the marudai and how you manage strand groups fundamentally affects tension control. Diagnose by Section:  Isolate the problem by checking if unevenness o...
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Kumihimo Instruction - Braiding Disk Template

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"Kumi" means to braid or gather together and "Himo" means string or cord so "Kumihimo" means simply braided cords. Traditionally Kumihimo is done on a Marudai which is a round wooden stand that the braider would kneel at. Modern braiders tend to braid at tables and Marudai can be made of plastic and more portable versions are simple disks cut from thick foam rubber.

For a simple eight-strand braid you will need:

  • A sheet of thick card
  • 2 strands of thread or yarn a meter long in one colour
  • 2 strands of thread or yarn a meter long in another colour
  • Scissors


Instructions

  1. First make your Marudai, use the template below to cut one from your card.
  2. Fold your 4 strands in half and knot them to make a loop, push this through the hole in the centre of your Marudai and wedge the strands into the slits as shown
  3. Move the top right strand to the slit to the right of the bottom pair then the bottom left strand to the slit to the left of the top strand.
  4. Rotate your Marudai a quarter-turn anti-clockwise and repeat with the two other pairs.
  5. Continue working this way until your braid is the desired length then knot it and trim away the excess thread.

maru dai, marudai, kumihimo marudai



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